Cuckoo-pint
Arum maculatum
Also listed as Arum byzantinum, Arum immaculatum
Also known as Lords-and-ladies, Wild Arum, Wake Robin
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A woodland perennial with distinctive arrow-shaped spotted leaves and curious purple-spotted pale spathes that emerge in spring. All parts are toxic; the plant produces bright red berries in late summer.
Why grow it
Cuckoo-pint offers early spring interest through its distinctive mottled spathes when few other woodland perennials are in flower, and its bright red late-summer berries provide visual contrast in shaded understories. Compared to other native Arum species, A. maculatum establishes readily in moist woodland conditions typical of temperate regions, though it is less commonly cultivated than some ornamental alternatives due to its toxicity concerns.
Watch out for
Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals; wear gloves when handling or dividing plants. The corms can spread vegetatively if small tubers are left in the soil during removal, making complete eradication difficult once established. Avoid planting in areas where children or pets have unsupervised access to the foliage or berries.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
European
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A woodland perennial with distinctive arrow-shaped spotted leaves and curious purple-spotted pale spathes that emerge in spring. All parts are toxic; the plant produces bright red berries in late summer.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cuckoo-pint grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Cuckoo-pint offers early spring interest through its distinctive mottled spathes when few other woodland perennials are in flower, and its bright red late-summer berries provide visual contrast in shaded understories. Compared to other native Arum species, A. maculatum establishes readily in moist woodland conditions typical of temperate regions, though it is less commonly cultivated than some ornamental alternatives due to its toxicity concerns.
Watch out for
Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals; wear gloves when handling or dividing plants. The corms can spread vegetatively if small tubers are left in the soil during removal, making complete eradication difficult once established. Avoid planting in areas where children or pets have unsupervised access to the foliage or berries.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
European
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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